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(No Model.)

G. W. FRANCIS.

WE DGE FOR AXES 0B. OTHER-TOOLS.

No. 364,238. Patented June 7, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \V. FRANCIS, OF BUFFALO, NEKV YORK.

WEDGE FOR AXES OR OTHER TOOLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,238, dated June '7, 1887.

Application filed May .29, 1886. SerialNo. 203,580. (No model.) I

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE W. FRANCIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New A invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in wedges used to firmly secure the helve in the eye of an ax or any other form of tool having an eye in which the helve or handle is to be secured; and it consists of the construction which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of an ax and helve with my improved form of wedge applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wedge. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the slotted guiding-plate. Fig. 4 is asection of Fig. 2, taken in the line or as; and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the wedge.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my invention as applied to an ax, in which a is the ax, having the usual eye, a,- and b is the helve, of such form in cross-section as to fit snugly within the eye a of the ax a, in which position it is to be tightly wedged.

c is the body porti onof my improved wedge, consisting of a rectangular piece of metal gradually tapering from top to bottom, or, in other words, wedge-shaped. At its upper end is the flanged portion 0, of oval form, to limit the entrance of the wedge into the outer end of the helve b. Centrally arranged on either side of the portion 0, and extending from its lower edge, 0, about two-thirds of its height, are the raised portions 0 which gradually increase in thickness from their lower edges to their top portions, where they form the shoulders 0', thus being auxiliary wedges upon the wedge proper. WVhen the wedge proper is driven into the helve to its full extent, these auxiliary wedge portions 0 not only serve to hold the wedge proper in place in the helve by reason. of the wood springing back against the shoulders a, but they serve as well to guide the wedge proper in the desired direction as it enters the helve.

On either side of. the auxiliary wedge portions 0 are the countersunk holes 0, which allow the wood to expand just sufficiently to fill them, thereby additionally securing the wedge against accidental displacement, and at the same time they can be used in the operation of removing the wedge after it has once been started. I

d is a plate of oval form, having the central longitudinal slot-d, with its side enlargements d d".

In the operation of driving the wedge the plate d is placed in position over the exposed end of the helve b, and in this position serves the double function of a guiding and covering plate. The edge e of the wedge c c is next placed in the slot (1 of the plate d, and in such position is driven into the helve at the proper point and in the proper direction, the enlargements d d in the slot (1 permitting the auxiliary wedge portions 0 c to pass through the slot 0!. In removing the wedge from the helve this plate (I can be used as a lever in starting the wedge, thereby possessing an additional function over the two above mentioned. The combined action of the wood of the hclve upon the shoulders c of the auxiliary wedge portions 0 and in the countersunk holes c serves to hold the wedge proper tightly in position and completely insures it against accidental displacement. V

-VVhile I have shown my improved wedge as applied to an ax, it is apparent that it is equally applicable to hatchets, hammers, or any other form of tool having an eye in which the helve or handle is to be secured.

I claim- The combination, with the shouldered wedge c 0, with auxiliary wedge portions 0", of the plate (I, having the slot (1, with its enlargements (1 substantially as shownand described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE FRANCIS.

Wi tllGSSGSi O. F. SWIFT, E. B. PRATT. 

